‘Self-hatred. I see. And if you were the King of Bolkando, Warleader, what would you do?’
‘I would make lying the greatest crime of all.’
‘Interesting notion. Unfortunately, usually the biggest liars of all are the people at the top-it’s how they stay there, after all.’
‘Ah, then I am not to believe a word you say?’
‘You can believe me, for I can think of no lies that would win me anything.’
‘Because my sword hovers over your throat.’
‘Precisely. But the lies I was speaking of are the ones the elite use to maintain the necessary distinctions, if you see my point.’
‘I do,’ and now he regarded her with keen interest. ‘Highness, this has proved most interesting. But I must ask you one other thing-why are you here and not your husband the King?’
‘The role of my Evertine Legion is to be arbiter of control within the kingdom-and its own populace-as much as to confront external threats.’
He nodded. ‘Thus, your presence here serves dual purpose.’
‘And the message presented to our rivals in the palace is-and do not be offended by this-the more important of the two.’ And then she smiled and added, ‘Unless, of course, you were seeking actual conquest.’
‘Your husband holds great faith in you, Highness.’
He has no choice. ‘He does, and with reason.’
‘Do you accept our demands?’
‘I do, Warleader, with some modifications.’
His eyes narrowed. ‘Name them.’
‘The water we provide you will be doubled, and it will be freely given. We shall also double the forage you require for your beasts, for we know far more about the Wastelands than you do, and we have no wish to make you into liars when you say you will never return to Bolkando.’ She paused, cocked her head. ‘Beyond the Wastelands you will find the dozen or so kingdoms of Kolanse. Warleader, I imagine you will not heed my advice, but I will give it anyway. You will find nothing of worth there. You will, in fact, find something terrible beyond imagining.’
‘Will you tell me more, Highness?’
‘If you like.’
‘Then may I request that you do not do so until such time as either the Mortal Sword Krughava or the Adjunct Tavore is present.’
‘Those you have named, they are both women, yes?’
‘They are.’
‘Will you feel… out of place, then?’
‘I will, but not for the reasons you might think, Highness.’
‘I shall then await this potent gathering with anticipation, Warleader.’
And for the first time, Gall bowed to her. ‘Queen Abrastal, it has been a pleasure.’
‘I am sure you feel so, and I do not begrudge you that. Are we now at peace?’
‘We are.’
She glanced down at the skins on the leather tarp. ‘And these?’
‘Oh,’ said Gall, ‘we’ll take them. My warriors will need to see them, to ease their rage. And for some, to soothe their grief over fallen kin.’
As he bowed again and turned away, Abrastal called out, ‘Warleader.’
He faced her again, a question in his eyes.
The Queen hesitated, and then said, ‘When you spoke of your people’s opinions… of these marines of the Malazan Empire, was there truth to your words?’
He straightened. ‘Highness, although the great Coltaine of the Crow Clan had many Wickans with him, he also possessed marines. Together, they escorted thirty thousand refugees across a third of a continent, and each step of the journey was war .’
‘Have I misunderstood then, Warleader? Did not Coltaine fail? Did he not die? And everyone with him?’
The warrior’s eyes were suddenly old. ‘He did. They all died-the Wickans, the marines.’
‘Then I do not-’
‘They died, Highness, even as they delivered those thirty thousand refugees to safety. They died, but they won .’
When she had nothing more to say, Gall nodded and resumed his march back to his horse. The two young bodyguards moved to edge past her to help with the defleshed and de-boned merchants. Abrastal caught the eye of the boy and winked. If he had been a Bolkando, his eyes would have widened in return. Instead, he grinned.
That dark thing came alive in her once again.
Spax was suddenly at her side, watching as Gall swung himself on to his horse and then sat motionless, presumably waiting for his two charges and the legionaries. ‘I well remember Malazan marines,’ he muttered.